Bowling game and pin retraction mechanism therefor



Jan. 1, 1957 D. coHN ,776, 37

BOWLING GAME AND PIN RETRACTION MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed Nov. 28, 1955 2 SheetS -Sheet 1 INVENTOR. D'Am D (JOHN 'WMU Janfll, 1957. D. COHN 2,776,137

.BOWLING GAME AND PIN YRETIRACTIONVMECHANISM THEREFOR Filed Nov. 28, 1es5 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4

* INVENTOR.

Y DAVID COHN Wvw ATTGENES llnitecl States Patent ce BOWLING GAME AND PIN RETRACTION MECHANISM THEREFOR David Cohn, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to T. Cohn Incorporated, Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 28, 1955, Serial No. 549,290

8 Claims. (Cl. 27341) This invention relates generally to game devices, and is particularly directed to improvements in target type games.

The particular embodiment of the present invention, which is illustrated in the drawings and which will be described hereinafter in greater detail, comprises generally a support, an arm pivoted to the support for swinging movement between a set position and a down position, and resiliently biased toward its down position, a target pivotally carried by the arm, and a catch or latch on the target and releasably engageable with the support to retain the target and arm in the set position and release the arm when the target is hit.

While the device of the present invention has been primarily developed and employed for use in a bowling or tenpin type game, and will be described hereinafter with particular reference thereto, it is appreciated that the structure may be equally well employed for a variety of other target type games, which are intended to be comprebended herein.

Heretofore, in various toy games of the target type, especially tenpins, it was necessary to set the pins or other targets individually and by hand. This was often a tedious and delicate procedure, incapable of being performed by relatively small children, extremely time consuming, often inaccurately performed, and otherwise detracting from the enjoyment of the game.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a target game construction of the type described, which overcomes the above mentioned difiiculties, enables even small children to quickly and easily set a target, with repeatable precision, and without the exercise of skill.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a game construction having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the foregoing paragraph, which is extremely simple in construction and operation, durable in use, and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable price.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of thisdisclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view showing a tenpin game constructed in accordance with the present invention, the playing alley being partially broken away for conservation of drawing space;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view showing the game device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the device of Fig. 1;

2,776,137 Patented Jan. 1, 1957 Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of Fig. 1, greatly enlarged, and showing a target in its set condition;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevational view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the target in an intermediate position of movement between its set and downed position;

Fig. 8 'is a sectional elevational view similar to Figs. 5 and 7, but showing the target in its downed position; and

Fig. 9 is a top plan view showing the construction of Fig. 8.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to Figs. 1-4, the embodiment of the invention illustrated therein comprises a tenpin game, generally designated 10, including a generally horizontal, elongated playing alley 11, an elevated target supporting structure 12 which bridges or straddles the rear end portion of the playing alley, and a plurality of targets 13 supported beneath the structure 12 and adapted to be impinged or hit by a ball 14.

The alley 11 is formed with a generally flat, rectangular bottom wall 17 which is adapted to rest upon a preferably horizontal supporting surface (not shown). Along opposite longitudinal side edges of the alley bottom Wall 17 are upstanding, longitudinally extending side walls 18, 18; and an upstanding rear alley wall 19 is provided on the rear edge of the bottom wall 17 and extends between the alley side walls. The front end 20 of the alley 11 is preferably open for receiving a ball therethrough.

The supporting structure 12 includes a pair of upstanding side pieces or walls 23, 23 disposed outwards of and contiguous to the alley side walls 18, i8, respectively, adjacent to the rear alley end Wall 19. A generally horizontally disposed bridging member, support or plate 25 extends over the alley 11, in spaced relation thereabove, and is secured by any suitable means to the upper ends of the walls or standards 23, 23. In the illustrated embodiment, the supporting plate 25 is disposed generally horizontally and of triangular configuration, with the apex of one angle disposed centrally and pointing forwards. An upstanding protective wall 26 may be provided about the periphery of the supporting plate 25, if desired.

As best seen in Figs. 2 and 4, the targets 13 are supported by and suspended from the bridging plate 25, in

position to be impinged upon by the ball or other article 14. It will be noted from Fig. 3 that the targets 13 are arranged in a generally triangular configuration, the con ventional arrangement for bowling or tenpins. The carrying structure by which each of the targets is supported or suspended from the plate 25 is identical, and shown in detail in Figs. 5-9, so that a description of one will sufiice.

As seen in Fig. 9, the supporting plate 25 is formed with a generally rectangular through opening 29; and, a tongue 3%, formed of the plate material, extends rearwardly into the opening 29 from an intermediate portion of the forward opening edge. The tongue 30 may terminate in a free end short of the rear edge of opening 29. Spaced forwardly of the plate opening 29, and in substantial alignment with the tongue 30, the plate 25 is formed with a generally rectangular through opening 31 of substantially less size than the opening 29. In addition, the plate 25 is formed rearwards of the opening 29, also in substantial alignment with the tongue 30, with an upset portion 32 defining a forwardly opening pocket 33, see Fig. 5.

On opposite sides of the plate opening 29 are provided upstanding, laterally aligned bearing lugs 36, 36, which support a laterally extending, generally horizontally disposed pivot pin or shaft 37 extending across the plate opening 29. An angulated strip or lever 39, of less width than that of the plate opening 29, is provided intermediate its ends with a. pair. of laterally spacedbean'ng lugs 40, 40 rotatably journaled on the shaft 37.

More specifically, the angulatedstrip or lever 39 includes a generally straight lower portion or arm 41, and

a generally straight upper portion or arm 42, which arms are disposed in angular relation with respect to each other and may be formed integrally of a single strip or formed separately and fixedly secured together in their angular relation. The bearing lugs 40, 40 are located adjacent to the juncture of the arms 41 and 42, and a cutout or opening 43 is formed in the arms 41 and 42, in the region of their juncture, to spacedly receive thetongue 30 and permit swinging movement of the lever arms without obstruction by the tongue. From Figs. 5, 7 and 8 it will. be observed that the lever 39 is swingable about the horizontal axis of the pivot pin 37 between the position of Fig. 5, with the lower arm 41 in a forwardmost, generally vertically depending condition, and the position of Fig. 8, with the lower arm ina rearwardly extending con dition closely underlying the supporting plate 25. Also, the upper lever arm 42 is simultaneously swingable between its rearwardly extending position of Fig. 5, closely overlying the supporting plate 25, and its forwardmost, upstanding position of Fig. 8.

A leaf spring 46, or other suitable resilient means, is arranged to yieldably urge the lever 39 in the direction of rotation to swing the lower lever arm 41 rearwards to the position of Fig. 8. In particular, the resilient means 46, as illustrated, comprises a resilient strip or leaf spring bent intermediate its ends, as at 47, with its bent portion extending forwardly about the pivot pin 37. The lower end portion or leg 48 of the leaf spring 46 extends rearwardsinto and is anchored within the pocket 33, in bearing engagement with the upper surface of the supporting plate 25, while the upper end portion or leg 49 of the spring 46 is in bearing engagement with the undersurface of the upper lever portion or arm 42, to bias the latter forwards, and hence, urge the lever arm 41 rearwards.

The target 13 depends from the lower lever arm 41 and is pivotally connected to the latter, as by a generally horizontal, laterally extending pivot pin 52. Stated otherwise, the target 13 has its upper region pivoted to the lower or distal end portion of the lever arm 41 for swinging movement with the lever arm and forward and rearward swinging movement relative to the lever arm about the axis of pin 52. In the illustrated embodiment, the targets 13 are shaped to simulate bowling pins, at least when viewed from the front of the device, see Fig. 4, and are provided with laterally outstanding wings 53, for a purpose appearing presently.

In Fig. it will be observed that each simulated pin or target 13 is disposed in front of its respective carrier arm 41 so as to be substantially directly below the supporting plate opening 31 when the carrier arm is in its forward position. Extending upwards from the upper end of each simulated pin 13 is an angulated tongue catch or latch 55, which includes a generally upwardly extending shank portion 56 and a rearwardly projecting terminal portion or lip 57 on the upper end of the shank portion. In the condition-of Fig. 5, with the carrier arm 41 swung to its forward position, the latch 55 is engageable in the supporting plate 25, with the shank portion 56 extending upwards through the plate opening 31 and the latch end plortion 57 extending rearwards above the supporting p ate.

Suitable resilient means 59 is engaged between the lever arm41 and target 13 to resiliently urge the latter forwards relative to the former, about the axis of the pin 52. The resilient. means 59 may consist of a resilient strip or leaf spring having an upwardly bowed intermediate portion 60 arranged over the pivot. 52, between the lever arm 41 and'target 13, and formed with depending legs or end por- '4 tions 61 and 62 secured in facing engagement with the rear surface of the target 13 and forward surface of the lever arm 41, respectively. As the leaf spring 59 tends to straighten, the target 13 is resiliently biased to swing forwards about the pivot 52, clockwise as seen in Figs. 5, 7 and 8.

In the set-up position of Fig. 5, the lever arm 41 is resiliently biased to swing rearwards, or counterclockwise, but the latch 55 is caught on the supporting plate 25, the rearwardly projecting latch or tongue end portion 57 hearing against the upper surface of the supporting plate,

to prevent rearward swing of the lever arm 41 and retainthe latter in its forward position. Further, the spring 59 biases the latch 55 rearwards to prevent inadvertent release of the latch from its hooked engagement with the supporting plate.

In this condition, the target 13 depends downwards toward theplaying alley 11 in position to be impinged upon by the ball or other article 14'moving rearwards along the alley. When an article impinges on the forward side of the target 13 to swing the later rearwards against the force of the spring 59, the latch 55 will. be swung forwards and have its upper end portion 57 removed from engagement with the upper surface of the plate 25. Upon release of the latch 55 from the supporting plate 25, the spring 46 operates to swing the lever 39 counter-clockwise and withdraw the latch downwards through the plate opening 31. This intermediate condition is illustrated in Fi 7.

lhereafter, the spring 46 continues to swing the lever 39 counter-clockwise and move the arm 41 to its rear wardly extending position of Fig. 8. The. target 13 swings to a rearwardly extending position along with the arm 41,.the terminal portion 57 of the latch 55 sliding along the undersurface of the supporting plate 25. The limiting position of Fig. 8 may be determined by the force of abutting engagement ofthe terminal latch portion 57 with the underside of the supporting plate 25.

In order to return the target 13 from its hit or downed position of Fig. 8 to its set position of Fig. 5, it is only necessary to manually swing the lever arm 42 rearwards from its upstanding position of Fig. 8 to its rearwardly extending position of Fig. 5. This action serves to slide the latch portion 57' forward and engage the latter through the plate opening 31', whereupon the springs 59 and 46 cooperate to releasably retain the mechanism in its set condition of'Fig. 5', as described hereinbefore. Of course, all of the hit or downed targets may be reset in the same manner.

In Fig. 3 there is shown in dot-and-dash outline one of the targets 13 in its downed or rearwardly extending condition. It will be noted that the laterally outstanding wings 53 of the downed target will strike the laterally extending wings 53 of the adjacent rearward targets and thus effect rearward swinging movement of the latter. In this manner, actual bowling or tenpins, wherein the pins knock one another down, is accurately simulated without the disadvantages thereof.

From the foregoing, itis seen that the present invention provides a target type game device which fully accomplishes its. intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a target game, a support, a carrier arm pivoted to said support for swinging movement between forward and rearward positions, a first resilient means yieldably urging said arm toward its rearward position, a target pivoted to the distal portion of said arm for movement with the latter and forward and rearward swinging movement relative to said arm, a. second resilient means yieldably urging said target in the forward direction relative to said arm, and a latch carried by said target for movement therewith and interengageable with said support when said arm is in its forward position to limit forward swinging movement of said target and retain said arm in its forward position, impingement of an article on said target effecting rearward swinging of the latter against the force of said second resilient means to disengage said latch from said support and release said arm for movement to its rearward position under the force of said first resilient means.

2. A target game according to claim 1, in combination with a manually actuable extension on the pivoted end of said arm for swinging the latter forward against the force of said first resilient means, whereupon said latch reengages with said support to limit forward swinging movement of said target and prevent rearward swinging movement of said arm.

3. A target game according to claim 1, said latch com prising an angulated tongue shaped to releasably catch on said support when said arm is swung forwards to hold said arm in its forward position, said tongue being released from said support upon rearward swinging of said target relative to said arm.

4. In a tenpin game, an elevated supporting structure adapted to bridge a playing alley, a plurality of carrier arms each having one end pivoted to said supporting structure for swinging movement between depending and rearwardly extending positions, first resilient means yieldably urging each of said arms toward its rearwardly extending position, a simulated pin pivoted to the other end of each arm for swinging movement therewith between a depending position adjacent to said alley and a rearwardly extending position substantially spaced above said alley and swingable forwards and rearwards relative to said arm, second resilient means yieldably urging said pins in the forward direction of their swinging movement relative to their respective arms, and a latch carried by each of said pins for movement therewith and engageable in said supporting structure when the associated arm is in its forward position to limit forward swinging movement of the pin and retain the arm in its forward position, impingement of an article on one of said pins eflecting rearward swinging of the latter against the force of its respective second resilient means to disengage the associated latch from said supporting structure and release the associated arm for movement to its rearward position under the force of its respective first resilient means.

5. A tenpin game according to claim 4, said latch comprising a togue extending upwards from said pin and into said supporting structure when said pin is in its depending position, said tongue having its upper end portion extending rearwards, said second resilient means biasing said tongue to catch its upper end portion on said supporting structure, whereby said tongue releasably holds said arm in its forward position.

6. A tenpin game according to claim 4, in combination with a manually actuable extension on said arm disposed above said supporting structure and swingable with said arm, actuation of said extension serving to swing said arm from its rearwardly extending position to its depending position and thereby reengage said tongue in said support.

7. -A tenpin game according to claim 4, wherein said pins are arranged in the conventional triangular configuration, each of said pins being of a size to impinge on the adjacent rearward pins upon rearward pin movement.

8. In a target game, an elevated generally horizontal supporting plate, an angulated lever pivoted intermediate its ends to said supporting plate for swinging movement of its lower end portion below said supporting plate between depending and rearwardly extending positions, a lever spring connected to said lever to resiliently urge said lower lever end portion toward its rearwardly extending position, a target pivotally depending from the lower end portion of said lever for movement with the latter and forward and rearward swinging movement relative to said lever, a target spring resiliently urging said target in the toward direction relative to said lever, and a rearwardly angulated latch extending upwards from said target and movable with the latter upwards through said supporting plate when said lower lever end portion is in its forward position, said latch being shaped to catch on said supporting plate when said lower lever end portion is swung forwards to releasably hold said lever in its forward position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 948,776 Talbert et a1. Feb. 8, 1910 1,254,958 Anderson Jan. 29, 1918 1,329,254 Purdy Jan. 27, 1920 2,478,134 Smith Aug. 2, 1949 

